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RE: Brown widows
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Chuck Kristensen
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Aug 07, 2009 07:12 PDT
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Hi Kelly,
Brown widow spider venom is more toxic in mouse assays and they may have a bit less venom, though the differences are not enormous and do not appear to be significant for humans. Brown widow bites tend to be much milder than black widow bites, on average.
There are many possible explanations for the discrepancy.
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8211456
Cases of black widow (Latrodectus indistinctus) and brown widow (L. geometricus) spider bites referred to the Tygerberg Pharmacology and Toxicology Consultation Centre from the summer of 1987/88 to the summer of 1991/92 were entered into this series. Of a total of 45 patients, 30 had been bitten by black and 15 by brown widow spiders. It was evident that black widow spider bites caused a more severe form of envenomation than brown widow bites, characterised by generalised muscle pain and cramps, abdominal muscle rigidity, profuse sweating, raised blood pressure and tachycardia. The symptoms and signs of brown widow bites were mild and tended to be restricted to the bite site and surrounding tissues. Conditions which should be considered in the differential diagnosis include cytotoxic spider bite, scorpion sting, snakebite, acute abdominal conditions, myocardial infarction, alcohol withdrawal and organophosphate poisoning. To prevent the development of complications, the administration of black widow spider antivenom is recommended in severe cases because untreated latrodectism could become protracted, without improvement, for several days.
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Nevertheless:
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19005454
The brown widow, Latrodectus geometricus, is one of five species of Latrodectus in the United States, and is reported to be one of the least dangerous. However, we report a previously healthy patient bitten by a brown widow, resulting in a serious reaction requiring hospitalization. Symptoms included severe pain, cramps, nausea/vomiting, and fasciculations in the pectoral and quadriceps muscles. This report signals a need to re-evaluate previously held ideas that brown widow bites are of minor consequence.
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Chuck Kristensen
Spider Pharm Inc.
PO Box 1090
Yarnell, AZ 85362 USA
chu-@spiderpharm.com
http://www.spiderpharm.com
Tel: 1 (928) 427-6589
Fax: 1 (928) 441-1727
To: arach-@topica.com
From: arachn-@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Brown widows
Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2009 05:04:38 -0700
From what I have read the brown widow's venom is more toxic but it injects less venom than the black widow. I cannot verify this, it is just the information that I have gathered through reading articles.
--- On Thu, 8/6/09, Kelly Kissane <teneb-@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: Kelly Kissane <teneb-@hotmail.com>
Subject: Brown widows
To: arach-@topica.com
Date: Thursday, August 6, 2009, 4:06 PM
One of the faculty members in my new department asked about brown widow spiders, which apparently are common in this part of Texas. I thought they were less toxic than the black widows, but came across some state extension reports that state brown widow venom is more toxic according to GB Edwards.
So I thought I'd ask for a confirmation here - I expect to be pummeled with poisonous spider questions in my new home, and want my information to be accurate.
Dr. Kelly C. Kissane
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Biology
Blinn College
Brenham, TX 77833
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